Book end



A. GILBERT Oct. 19, 1937.

BOOK END Filed Jan. 30, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 19, 1937. A. GILBERT2,096,634

BOOK END Filed Jan. 30, 1936 f 5 Sheets-Sheet? HA5 flTTOR/VEY Oct. 19,1937. GlLBERT 2,096,634

BOOK END Filed Jan. 50, 1936 I 5 Sheets-Sheet s //VVE/V70AJ AlfredGilberr ey- Patented Oct. 19, 1937 l I Wire! STATES PATEN O FICE2,096,634 .3001; END Alfred Gilbert, London, England Application January30, 1936, Serial No. 61,498

- In Great Britain February 8, 1935 26 Claims. (01. 2 11-43) Thisinvention concerns improvements inor Figure 4is a perspective view ofthe winding relating to book ends in which one book end is bar employedin the book ends illustrated in Figs. connected to another book end (orto another 1 to 3 and 5;

member serving as a book end) by means of a Figure 5 shows the book endsillustrated in I flexible member, e. g., a strip or ribbon of-fabric,Fig. 1 collapsed for transport; ,5 extending between the lower parts ofthe book Figure 6 is an underneath perspective view of ends and in.which the distance between the book a modified form of book endconstructed in ends is adjustable (so that the book ends are ableaccordance with this invention; to receive between them more or lessbooks as Figure '7 is an underneath perspective View of desired) byvarying the effective external length a further modified form of bookend constructed of the said flexible member, i. e. the length of that inaccordance with this invention; part of the flexible member disposedbetween the Figure 8 is a vertical sectional elevation of a book ends.part of a book endconstructed in aocordancewith One object of thisinvention is to provide book this invention and illustrates amodification .5 end-s of the kind specified but which are relawhich canbe applied to any of the constructions 2 tivelysimple and robust inconstruction; whilst shown in Figs. 1 to '7;

a further object or the invention is to make such Figure 9 is aperspective view ofa modification book ends readily transportable and anunderof the book ends shown in Figs. 1 to 3;

lying idea of this invention is to provide a book FigurelO is asectionalview of a further modi- 33 end such as referred to above and whichincludes fication of the book end shown in Figs. 1 to 3; I

anadjustable member adapted to have one end Figures 11 to 16 arefragmentary views which a .T/ in the form of a winding ban adjustmehtiof the tween the book ends and they are supported by of the said flexiblemember attached thereto, show by way of example various possiblemodifisaid adjustable member being adjustably I supcations, within thescope of the present invention, ported on the book end, and the latterand the to the winding bar andco-opjerating parts of the adjustablemember having interengaging or inbook end shown in Figs. 1 to 3;

terlocking parts adapted when co operating to In Fig. 1 of the drawings,there is illustrated a retain the adjustable member in .an adjusted pairof book ends I and 2 connected together by a position. i 7 flexiblefabric strip 3, preferably a silk ribbon of The adjustable nemberconveniently is either substantial width. Books 4 may be placedbeeffective length of the flexible memben'being the latter in a verticalposition on end as indieffected by rotation of this bar about its axis,or cated. The extent to which the book ends can the adjustable membermay comprise an anchorseparate isad'justable and is limited by theribing bar adjustable along the book end. Alterbon 3.

natively a combined winding bar and anchoring The book ends land 2 areidentical with one bar may be employed. another, and each is of L-shapeand comprises a The adjustable member may be adapted to be foot 5 and anupright 6, and both these parts are freed from the book end foradjustmentpurposes preferably made from moulded synthetic resin.

by a bodily movement of the adjustablemember The upright 6 is providedwith a recess '5 on its .11) relative to the book end; such bodilymovement inner side and the lower'part of this recess is 4 may be atransverse movement (i. e., aimovement closed by a cover sheet orplat'eB secured in posilaterally as distinct from an endwise movement),tion by screws 9. The plate 8 is preferably rebut the freeing movementmay if desired be van cessed into the upright 6 so as to be flush withthe endwise one. face of the latter. The plate 8 extends to the 4.3 Inorder that my invention may be clearly bottom of the upright 6 but doesnot extendto understood and readily carried into practice','-'I the topof the recess I so that an opening or have appended hereto sheets ofdrawings;'whe r eaperture I I] is left inthe inner wall ofthe uprightin:- 6 .of the b ookend. This aperture is extended Figure 1 is aperspective view showing a pairof downwardly by providing the plate 8with a .5 3 book ends constructed in accordance with this thumb orfinger recess or hole H, the purpose of invention; which will becomeapparent from the subsequent Figure 2 is an endelevation of one ofthebook description. ends shown in Fig. 1, apart of the book endbeingThe recess 1, in combination with the cover shewn broken away for;illustrative purposes; plate 8, renders the lower part of the upright 6Figure Sis a section on line 3.-3, (Fig.2) tubular, the passagethroughthe tubular part being of flat rectangular cross section and of such awidth and depth as to permit of the ready passage therethrough of thestrip or ribbon 3.

The width of the recess I is restricted somewhat by a pair of inwardlyextending parts I2 disposed at the sides of the recess, and the upperends of these parts I2 constitute, with the plate 8 and the adjacentparts of the upright 6, a pair of recesses or sockets I3 of rectangulartransverse cross-section into which are dropped the flat or rectangularends I4 of a fiat winding bar I5. 1

Preferably the end portions I4 of the bar I5:

are wider than the other part of the bar and the end of the strip orribbon 3 is clipped on to the bar I5 between the end portions I4 by asheet metal clip I6 of inverted U-shaped cross-section.

The dimensions of the recesses I3 and the ends IA of the bar I5 are socorrelated that when the bar I5 is in the position shown in full linesin the drawings it cannot rotate about its own axis. In order to rotatethe bar, and so to adjust the unrolled length of the ribbon 3, it isnecessary to lift the bar I5 from the position in which it is shown infull lines and to withdraw it from the upright 6 via the opening ID inthe latter, this operation being facilitated by the provision of thethumb or finger hole II previously described. The process of removingthe winding bar is indicated in dot and dash lines at H (Fig. 2).

Preferably the bar I5 is narrow and thin so that each revolution thereofonly makes a small adjustment in the unrolled length of the ribbon, butgreater adjustment per revolution can be had by using a wider and/orthicker winding bar. Also the recess or hole I3 is deeper from front toback than the thickness of the bar I5 to allow for the ribbon wound onto the latter.

Into the lower tubular end of the upright 5 projects an upstanding partI8 provided on the foot 5 of the book end. The part I8 is a tight fitinto the upright 6 but permits of the book end readily being collapsedfor packing as indicated in Fig. 5, which figure shows two book endscollapsed and packed together. From this figure, it will be seen thatthe parts nest nicely together, the parts I8 of the feet 5 of the twobook ends extending in opposite directions.

A groove I9, having an inclined bottom, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, isprovided in one face of the upstanding part I8 of the foot 5, and thisgroove is provided for the free passage of the ribbon or strip 3 whichis laterally positioned by the side walls of said groove.

The outer face of the upright 6 is recessed upwardly as shown in Fig. 3to ensure a snug interconnection of the foot 5 therewith so that to allappearances the foot and upright are in one piece.

Preferably the angle between the upright and the foot of each book endis left clear ofobstructions so that if desired the well known form ofornamental book ends can be placed on book ends according to thisinvention as roughly indicated in dot and dash lines at 20, Fig. 1.

It will of course be appreciated that instead of making the winding barI5 entirely fiat, the centre part (taking the ribbon 3) could be'ofcircular cross section so long as at least one end or part of the barwas of non-circular cross-section and co-operated with a correspondingpart of the book end.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of the book ends shown in Figs. 1 to3,'the modification consisting in hinging the foot 5 to the upright 6instead of making these parts separable and interlocking. In theconstruction illustrated in Fig. 6 the foot 5 is hinged to the upright 6by two hinges 2I so arranged and operating that the upright 6 can eitheroccupy a position at right angles to the foot 5 or lie in the same planeas the latter, this collapsed position being indicated in the drawingsby dotted lines 22. When the upright 6 is in the position indicated infull lines at Fig. 6 it cannot be turned further in the direction of thearrow because of its abutment at its lower end with the foot 5 whichforms a stop. When the upright lies fiat as indicated by dotted lines 22the book end is very convenient for packing.

' Fig. '7 shows a further modification of the book end illustrated inFigs. 1 to 3. The book end shown in Fig. '7 has the'foot 5 interlockingwith the upright 6 but this is effected without the aid of theupstanding part I8 of the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3.

The foot in the construction shown in Fig. 7 has a pair of projections23 engaging in corresponding recesses 24 formed in the lower end of theupright 6 when the latter is in the upstanding position shown in thedrawings, the parts being retained in this position by locking pins,screws, or the like 25 passing through the projections 23 and into theupright '6. The upright 6 and foot 5 are completely separable byremoving the pins 25 and can consequently be packed neatly and readilyfor transport or storage.

In Fig. 8 is illustrated a modification applicable to any of the bookends according to this invention and described above, but is especiallyuseful in the case of relatively large size book ends where a relativelywide winding bar I5 is used and adjustment by rotating this may be insome cases too coarse. The object of this modification is to provide anintermediate or finer adjustment than that provided for by rotation ofthe winding bar.

For this purpose one of the walls, the inner wall in the constructionillustrated in Fig. 8, of the upright of the book end is provided withone or more pairs of steps 26. The steps of each pair are disposed sothat one is adapted to support one end I4 of the winding bar I5 whilstthe other is adapted similarly to support the other end I4 of thewinding bar. As will readily be appreciated from the drawings arelatively fine adjustment of the effective length of the ribbon 3 canbe made simply by lifting the winding bar up one step in the upright 6,for example to the position indicated by chain dotted lines 21 in Fig.8.

Fig. 9 shows in perspective a modification of the book ends shown inFigs. 1 to 3, this modification consisting of providing the book endseach with a door 32 hinged to the upright of the book end and openingoutwardly. This door gives access to the interior of the upright and thewinding bar so thatadjustment of the ribbon 3 can be made without thenecessity of removing books from between the book ends. If there is noplay or slackness in the ribbon, it may be necessary to remove one ormore books so as to provide the small amount of loose ribbon required toenable the'bar I5 to be lifted for winding up or unwinding the ribbon.In this instance the inner side of the book end is entirely closed. Aball catch or other suitable means can be provided normally to retainthe door 32 closed.

Fig. 10 shows a similar arrangement to that illustrated in Fig. 9 butinstead of the door 32 being hinged it simply lifts off the book end andis retained in its normal position at the bottom by engaging in a recess60 in the foot 5 and at the top by having a fastening, as a hookedmember 6i engaging a co-o-perating member, e. g., a bar 62 on theupright proper- 'A thumb recess 63"or other device may be provided tofacilitate removal of the door 32..

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 11- the winding bar has its ends28 of polygonal. (e. g., octagonal) transverse cross-section instead offiat, so that the ends have a plurality of. faces 29 which canalternatively cooperate with the inner flat surfaces 33 and 3! of theouter and inner walls of the upright of the book end to prevent theunintentional rotation of the winding bar. The more faces 29' that areprovided on. the ends 28 of the winding bar the greater the fineness ofadjustment of the ribbon 3 that can be obtained.

Instead of making the ends of the winding bar of polygonal cross-sectionthe same object can be achieved by constructing the winding bar and bookend so that the one has a. groove or grooves engageable by a projectionor projections on the other part. In the example shown in Fig. 12, theends of the winding bar are cylindrical as shown at 34 and theextremities of the bar are provided with diametrical grooves or passages35 whilst the upright of the book end is internally provided with a webor rib 36 for each grooved end of the winding bar, such web or rib beingadapted releasably to engage in a groove 35. of the winding bar so as toprevent its unintentional rotation. By providing several crossinggrooves 35 in each end of the winding bar a relatively fine adjustmentof the ribbon 3 can be made as will readily be appreciated.

A further alternative is shown in Fig. 13 where the projections 36 ofFig, 12 are replaced by pins or the equivalent 3"! projecting up fromthe bottom of the sockets I3, one pin being arranged in each socket. Theends 38 of the winding bar are in this case each provided with one ormore diametrical bores or passages 39 which replace the grooves 35 ofthe construction shown in Fig. 12. If a plurality of passages 39 areprovided they are arranged to cross one another to give a plurality ofwinding bar positions and consequently the possibility of relativelyfine adjustments of the ribbon 3. The passages 39 need not extendcompletely through the winding bar as shown.

Fig. 14 shows a construction employing recesses 49 provided in theupright of the book end each for the reception of a pin or tooth, or anyone of a number of teeth or pins 4| provided on the winding bar. Aplurality of teeth or pins 4| are shown in the drawings and are providedon each end of the winding bar, the teeth or pins being peripherallyspaced around these ends.

Fig. 15 shows an arrangement in which the winding bar is prevented fromrotation by pro viding each of its ends 43 with a radial pin 44projecting outwardly therefrom and adapted to engage an abutment 45(which may merely be a part of the book end as shown) to prevent unintentional rotation ofthe winding bar.

Fig. 16 shows an extension of the idea shown in Fig. 14, the pins 4| ofthe winding bar shown in the latter figure being replaced in Fig. 16 byratchet teeth 66 provided peripherally around one end of the windingbar. With these ratchet teeth co-operates a gravity actuated pawl 51pivoted at 68 to the book end and having a finger piece 69 by which itcan be disengaged from the ratchet to free the winding bar. Access tothe pawl and winding bar may be had by providing the book end with adoor such as for example either of those respectively shown in Figs. 9vand 10. The

end 10: of the winding bar may be oi plain cylinidrical form and a closebut rotatable fit inthe socket l3. However, if desired, the ratchet andpawl mechanism may be provided at both" ends of the winding bar insteadof at only one endthereof. It will be seen that the windingpbar shown inthe drawings is capable of being rotated to wind up the ribbon 3irrespective of the pawl 6'! but the ribbon cannot be unrolled withoutthe pawl first being disengaged from! the winding bar.

In each of. the constructions shown-in Figs. 11 to 16 the ribbonengaging or centre part of the winding bar can be flat or cylindrical.If cylindrical it may have a longitudinal slot 46 to receive the end ofthe ribbons In spite of the fact that it is preferred to use two exactlysimilar book ends in accordance with this invention as a pair, this isnot essential as one end of the ribbon 3 could be fixed to one book endor to some other structure instead of being adjustably attached to abook end.

Although it is preferred to make book ends de-' scribed above fromsynthetic resin mouldings, the book ends may be made partly or wholly ofwood or metal and it is possible for other materials to be introduced inthe construction of the book I ends, as for example, glass and mirrorglass;

Book ends constructed in accordance with the present invention have notthe annoying trait of separating accidentally which is common in theornamental and other unconnected ends; they also have the advantage ofbeing readily adjusted to or from one another, and are sim* ple andeffective in construction, whilst at the same time being of neat andcompactappearance, Furthermore, they enable the ornamental efiect ofexisting ornamental book ends to-be retained if desired by mounting theornamental book ends on book ends according to this invention asdescribed above. In addition, they are readily and conveniently packedfor storageor transit and when so packed occupy very little space.

While I have described and shown certain at present preferredembodiments of my invention it is to be distinctly understood that theinven'-' tion is not limited to such embodiments but may be otherwiseembodied within the scope of the following claims. I What I claim is:

1. In a pair of book ends adjustably connected together by a flexiblestrip, a winding bar rotatable about its own axis and to which one endof the flexible strip is attached, supporting means on one of said bookends adapted non-rotatably to support said winding bar, and the windingbar being releasable, by a movement transverse to its own axis from suchsupporting means for adjustment of said flexible strip.

2. A book end adapted to form one of a pair of book ends adjustablyconnected together by a flexible strip, such book end having 'a' windingbar adapted to have one end of said flexible strip attached thereto, andmeans on said book en'd for supportingthe said winding bar thereon, theWinding bar having a perimet'rically"non-circular part and the book endincluding therewithin a part adapted to coact with said non-circularpart of the winding bar normally to prevent rotation of the latter aboutits longitudinal axis but the winding bar being capable of being freedfor rotation by a relative movement of the Winding bar and the coacting.part. of the supporting means,-

such relative movement being in a direction transverse to the axis ofthe winding bar.

3. A book end adapted to be connected to another member by a flexibleadjustable co-miection strip, said book end including a winding baradapted to have one end of said flexible strip attached thereto andhaving a non-circular part, and the book end having a supporting partadapted removably to carry said winding bar, such supporting partincluding a non-circular recess adapted to receive the non-circular partof said winding bar in a non-rotatable manner.

4. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by aflexible connection strip the efifective length of which is variable,said book end including a winding bar adapted to; have one end of thesaid flexible connection strip attached thereto, and said book endhaving supporting means for the winding bar which supporting means has apart adapted positively to interlock with a part of the winding barnormally to prevent rotation of the latter about its axis and saidinterlocking parts being adapted for release from one another by themovement of one of the parts relative to the other in a directiontransverse to the axis of the winding bar.

5. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by aflexible connection member, said book end including a winding reeladapted for connection to one end of said flexible member, and the bookend having supporting means adapted to hold said reel, the latter beingadapted for rotation relative to the book end to wind or unwind saidflexible member, and said reel having at the periphery of an end portionthereof a non-circular part or parts and the book end having aco-operatingly formed part or parts co-operatingly formed to preventrotation of the reel when the supporting means and reel areinterengaged.

6. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by aflexible connection strip, said book end including a winding bar adaptedfor attachment to one end of the connection strip, and supporting meanson the book end adapted to carry said winding bar, radially disposedabutment means on the winding bar and interengaging abutment means on'the said supporting means adapted together to retain the winding baragainst unintentional rotation, and said abutment means being capable ofdisengagement from one another by relative movement thereof transverselyof the axis of the winding bar.

'7. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by aflexible connection member, said book end including a winding bar havingrectangular ends and adapted for attachment to one end of saidconnection member, and the book end also having a pair of spacednoncircular recesses adapted to receive said rectangular ends of thewinding bar and in which recesses said rectangular ends of the windingbar are non-rotatable about the axis of the bar.

,8. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by aflexible connection member, said book end comprising a foot, an uprightmounted on and collapsibly associated with said foot and having apassage-way for said flexibleconnection member extending therealong, awinding bar adapted for connection to one end of said flexibleconnection member, supporting means within said book end adaptednon-rotatably to support said winding bar, and the latter beingdisengageable from the supporting means when desired for adjustmentpurposes.

9. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by aflexible connection member, said book end comprising a foot and anupright mounted on and collapsibly associated with said foot and theupright having a passageway for said flexible connection memberextending therealong, a winding bar adapted to be connected to one endof said flexible connection member and adapted for rotation about itsown axis, said bar having a perimetrically non-circular portion and saidbook end having a co-operating part adapted to interengage therewithreleasably to retain the winding bar in an adjusted condifor connectionto one end of said flexible connection member and having a non-circularend adapted to be supported non-rotatably (but removably) in aco-operating non-circular socket provided in the upright of the bookend.

11. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by aflexible connection member and comprising a foot and an upright hingedlyconnected together, stop means for limiting the hinging movement of theupright and foot relatively to one another in one direction, saidupright having a passage-way for said flexible connection member, and anadjusting bar being provided and adjustably mounted in said upright,this adjusting bar being adapted for connection to one end of saidflexible connection member, and cooperating means being respectivelyprovided at the periphery of the winding bar and in the upright forreleasably retaining said adjusting bar in a rotationally adjustedposition.

12. A book end adapted to be connected to another member adjustably inrelation thereto by means of a flexible member, said book end includingan adjusting reel adapted to be connected to one end of said flexiblemember, and supporting sockets adapted to carry the ends of saidadjusting reel, the latter and the supporting sockets being formed forinterengagement with one another to retain the adjusting reel in arotationally adjusted position, and the adjustment reel being adaptedfor release from the supporting means by a transverse bodily movement topermit of its adjustment and consequently the adjustment of theeffective length of said flexible member.

13. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by aflexible connection strip, said book end comprising a foot and apartially tubular upright, the upright mounted thereon and foot beingseparable and collapsible for storage, a winding bar housed within saidupright and adapted for connection to one end of said flexible strip sothat the latter can be wound on to the bar, said upright hav ing socketsand said winding bar having end parts non-rotatably engageable with saidsockets.

14. A book end according to claim 13 wherein the ends of said windingbar are flat and said sockets are of rectangular transversecross-section.

15. A book end according to claim 13 wherein said upright is aperturedto give access to said winding bar.

16. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by astrip of flexible material, said book end having an upright booksupporting side and a foot forming side, a winding bar adapted to beattached to one end of said flexible strip and on to which the lattermay be wound, said winding bar having ends of angled transverse sectionand the book end having sockets removably to support the ends of saidwinding bar, these sockets each having a transverse section adapted toenable the ends of the winding bar non-rotatably to be interengagedtherewith.

17. In combination a pair of book ends of L shape and a flexible ribbonconnecting the book ends together, each book end having an upright partand a foot part connected together for collapsing at will and each bookend including a reel attached to the adjacent end of said ribbon, thebook end having sockets adapted removably to carry said reel and fromwhich the latter can be lifted by a movement transverse to its own axis,and the ends of the reel having means co-operating with means on thebook end releasably to lock the reel against rotation about its ownaxis.

18. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by aflexible strip and including an adjustable member adapted to have oneend of said flexible strip attached thereto, means adjustably to supportsaid adjustable member, and means on the book end and means on theadjustable member adapted for interlocking engagement with one anotherto retain the adjustable member in adjusted position, and the adjustablemember being adapted for release from said interlocking engagement by abodily movement of the adjustable member transverse to its own axis andrelative to its book end.

19. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by aflexible strip, including a rotatable winding bar attached to one end ofthe said strip, means for supporting said winding bar rotatably onthebook end, and pawl and ratchet means respectively carried by the bookend and the winding bar and adapted releasably to lock the winding baragainst rotation in one direction.

20. A book end adapted to form one of a pair of book ends connectedadjustably together by a flexible strip or member, such bookendincluding a winding bar and supporting means for the latter, the windingbar and supporting means being so co-operatingly formed that wheninterengaged the winding bar is non-rotatable relative to the supportingmeans, but the winding bar being capable of ready transverse bodilymovement to disengage it from the supporting means to free the windingbar for rotation about its axis for adjustment of the flexible strip ormember.

21. A book end adapted to be connected ad.-

justably to another member by a flexible connection strip the effectivelength of which is variable, said book end including a winding baradapted for attachment to one end of said strip and rotatable about itsown axis to adjust the effective length of the strip, supporting meansin the book end for the winding bar and means on the book end. and thewinding bar adapted normally to prevent rotation of the latter about itsaxis but capable of disengagement (to free the winding bar for rotation)by movement of the one relative to the other transversely of the axis ofthe winding bar.

22. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by aflexible connection strip, said book end comprising a foot and anupright mounted on and collapsibly as- 'sociated therewith, a windingbar within the upright and adapted for connectionto one end of saidstrip, this winding bar having a flat end portion and the uprightincluding a rectangular socket adapted non-rotatably to receive saidflat end portion of the winding bar.

23. A book end adapted to be connected adjustably to another member by astrip of flexible material, said book end comprising an adjustment baradapted to be connected to one end of said strip and on. to which thelatter may be wound, the said adjustment member and the book end havingco-operating means to retain the adjustment member, in rotationallyadjusted posi-' material, such book end: comprising an upright 7 portionand a foot portion and having in the upright a winding reel rotatableabout its own axis and adapted to be attached to one end of saidflexible strip, said upright being partially tubular for the passage ofsaid strip to said reel and having supporting means for the reel, andmeans within the upright and further means on the adjustment reeladapted positively to interlock together so as normally to lockreleasably the adjustment member in a rotationally adjusted position inthe upright.

26. A pair of book ends each comprising a foot part, an upright part, aflexible strip connecting the book ends together, a winding bar adaptedfor attachment to one end of the flexible strip, such winding bar beingnon-rotatably mounted in the upright but being movable transversely toits axis to free it for rotation and adjustment of said strip. 7

ALFRED GILBERT.

